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NEWS & LETTERS, October 2002
U.C. Berkeley clerical workers strike
Berkeley, Cal.--In the first major labor action in 30
years, the Coalition of Union Employees (CUE), the union of clerical employees,
representing 2,300 mostly women workers at the University of California, staged
a three day strike at the Berkeley campus at the beginning of the Fall semester
Aug. 26-28. Many others, like myself, expressed their solidarity by
staying out and joining the picket lines. Classrooms were empty because the
graduate student instructors, represented by the UAW, joined the strike. Clinics
were closed because practically all of the nurses, represented by California
Nurses Association (CNA), came out. Day care providers stayed out. Many trades
honored the picket lines. U.C. management's practices have angered so many that
a new level of solidarity was forged. A young Asian woman told me: "The only thing they
see us as is an expense. They don't appreciate the skills we bring. I am a
graduate of this institution. I have worked here as administrative assistant for
two years. During that time I have gotten no raises, no cost of living or merit
raises. Now U.C. has declared an impasse and walked away from the
negotiations." An older Black woman said: "I have been working
here for 12 years. I have seen the conditions decline. For me, the issue is the
safety and working conditions. I have been out for surgery to correct carpel
tunnel syndrome. I was supposed to come back in March, but I still can't work
full time because they can't get my workstation set up right." A picket captain was proud that "this strike raised
the bar on union solidarity. A couple of years ago, when University Professional
and Technical Employees (UPTE) struck, they didn't even ask CUE to honor their
picket lines. They did not feel strong enough for that to make sense. In May the
nurses were going to strike. U.C. came up with a better proposal, so the nurses
didn't go out. But then U.C. kept saying "we didn't mean this" and
"we didn't mean that" so the nurses are very upset. At the medical
center, of the four clinics three are closed completely and management is trying
to keep one open with nursing supervisors. "The graduate student instructors have had their
beef with the university for years. U.C. does not want to recognize them as
employees. The lecturers are mad, too. U.C. treats them as temporary help though
some have been here for years or decades. "From now on, when any union strikes, we will all
support it. This strike has made such a difference." --Urszula Wislanka |
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